Key Scripture:
John 15:10. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Key Idea:
Perfect conformity to the Vine is one of the most precious of the lessons of the branch. It was by obedience Christ as Vine honored the Father as Husbandman; it is by obedience the believer as branch honors Christ as Vine. Obey and abide–That was the law of Christ’s life as much as it is to be that of ours. He was made like us in all things, that we might be like Him in all things. He opened up a path in which we may walk even as He walked. He took our human nature to teach us how to wear it, and show us how obedience, as it is the first duty of the creature, is the only way to abide in the favor of God and enter into His glory.
– Murray

Pray for revelation:
Saviour, help me, that obedience may indeed be the link between Thee and me.
– Murray

Key words:

Obey, Abide, Just As.

There are those words again, we are to obey his commandments. We are to abide. But if you really desire to know God and what he wants, you will find that those are the same things that you should want for yourself. His ways and his commands are burdens that are light and easy to carry out. Even so, don’t think that obeying God is too much to do. Don’t think that he is out of touch and doesn’t know what life as a human is like. That is part of the purpose why Jesus became human, grew up like each of us, lived like each of us, but died in such a way that we all can inherit a place in God’s kingdom.

His life, as recorded in the books of the Bible demonstrate how he lived. His life is the model that we can and should use for our lives. Jesus lived his life on earth in conditions that are generally less than comfortable. God doesn’t call us to a life in poverty, but that of prosperity. Our richest living conditions here on earth are poor when compared to what awaits in God’s kingdom. The model of Jesus life is the spiritual things he did, his attitude, his relationships to the people around him as wel as to God.

The call is to live just exactly as Jesus did. Exactly as Jesus talked to and did what he God do, he did. To him, God wasn’t some supernatural being, he was Father. God was relevant and there was a distinct relationship there. Jesus had problems with the engrained religious types. He still loved them, but just didn’t like the things of religion that should be meant to worship God, being used to build walls between men and God. Jesus loved those who were on the outside of proper culture. Basically he loved people who are unlovely.

That brings me to the real hard thing about love. It is so easy to receive and be smothered in it. Sharing love has it’s challenges. Loving those who are friends, family, or otherwise loveable is easy, but can still lead to a broken heart. Ask a parent. If you are a parent and wonder when the heartbreaks will stop, ask a grandparent, or one with adult children.

Love the unloveable. Forget walking up and giving a hug and wet sloppy kiss to that homeless guy. Well, unless that’s just your personality. Still don’t let appearances fool you. Under that surface appearance of ragged cothes, or tattoos and body piercings, there is a real person with real life issues. Get past the walls that people set up with attitude or rough behavior. Show kindness, even in small ways. People can see through surface smiles and mindless politeness. Make the effort to be sincere.

Loving the unlovely is a messy process, but a worthy one. Exactly as Jesus did it, we need to obey and follow the commands that direct us in that way.